The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-08
AN OCEAN COLLISION.
Two Great Atlantic Steamers Col.
lide-Loss Of Life.

Two Great Atlantic Steamers Col.
lide-Loss Of Life.
A collision between the great steamers the
Britannia and the Celtic, both of the White
Star Line, occurred about $50 miles east Of
Sandy Hook in thick fog Thursday
afternoon about 5:25 o'clock. The Celtic
was coming to New York and the Britannia
was on the second day of her journey to Liv-
erpool The Celtic struck the Britannia three
times on the side, cutting a big hole in
her beneath the water line and in
ficting other serious damage to both ves-
sells. At least four steerage passengers on the
Britannia were killed instantly by the falling
bars and plates of iron. Others were thought
to have been swept overheard and drowned.
About twenty persons were injured. The
story Of the collision is as follows:
The Celtic had about $40 cabin and steer
age passengers on board. The Britannia car
ried some $50 passengers. The weather
was foggy at the time and the sea
calm. The Britannic's fog bell had
been kept ringing all the after
noon, but her speed had been kept at a high
been heard. The Britannia, under command of
Captain Hamilton Perry, was kept straight on
in her course. The Celtic appeared on the
port side of the Britannia and when she saw
her, reversed her engines, but it was too late.
Approaching in an oblique direction
the Celtic struck the Britannia slanting
blow, right abaft the engine room,
glanced off, and then, carried forward
again by her own momentum, struck the
Britannia a stunning blow, almost at right
angles, few feet further aft. The PROV of
the Celtic crashed through the railing, break
ing into the cabin and cutting hole in the
Britannia below the water line. Her nose en-
tered the Britannic's side fully 10 feet. The
steerage passengers were gathered there, and
at least four of them were killed outright by
the crash of the Celtic's prov and by falling
pieces of iron. A number were seriously
injured.
The Britannia was still moving, and, as she
drew off from the Celtic, the Celtic was
shunted to one side, only to advance third
time on the Britannia. few feet further on,
and ripping open her side for distance of
twenty feet. Then the Celtic shot behind the
Britannia and stopped about eighty rods off
on her port side.
Every one thought the Britannia was sink
ing, and Captain Perry ordered the boats
lowered. Some of the men tried to enter the
lifeboats and a party of fifteen firemen
got in a launch and started for the Gel
tic. The Captain drew his pistol and threat
ened to shoot any Of the crew who would
repeat the act Some Of the women and chill
dren were then transferred to the Celtic, and
when it was discovered that there was no i'm
mediate danger, the panic Was allayed and
the vessels lay TO- The Captains Of the two
steamers consulted together, and, lying mo-
tionless about five hours. the weather cleared
little and in company the two disabled
steamers journeyedslowly toward New York.
Before the sun rose the next morning the
solemn service of the burial Of the dead at
sea was read, and the killed passengers
were dropped overheard to their graves at
the bottom of the ocean, The steamships
Marengo, of the Wilson Line. and the Brit
ish Queen, both bound for New York,
overlook the Celtic and Britannia Friday the
day after the accident, and accompanied
them to Sandy Hook: The passengers were
in CONSERVATION all the time, and went about
with life preservers bound fast to their bodies.